Tag Archives: ankle pain

Our clinic sees lots of running injuries. Plantar fasciitis, shin splints, ankle pain, foot pain, calf strains, IT band syndrome, patellofemoral syndrome…the list goes on and on. These injuries are relatively common among runners and there are many different causes. Given that many of these injuries are related to impact, for some people, the finger…

Ligaments are tissues in our body that are found around joints. They are different from muscles or tendons since they do not initiate any form of movement. Instead, ligaments are passive structures that provide support, stability and protection for our joints. Unfortunately, ligaments can be injured. What is the difference between a sprain and a strain? The term “sprain” usually refers to ligament…

An ankle sprain is one of the most common sports injuries that we encounter at our clinic. The majority of ankle sprains are called inversion sprains. These sprains are the classic “rolling the ankle” when you twist your ankle from the outside of the joint. Perhaps a lesser known type of ankle sprain is a…

Restless legs syndrome is an unpleasant condition that affects people of all ages. Approximately 57% of elderly people and 5 – 15% of the general population experience restless legs syndrome. Although the symptoms are difficult for patients to describe, it is characterized by an urge to move the legs usually due to an unpleasant sensation…

Quite often we hear of patients who repeatedly sprain their ankles. Weeks, months or even years may pass between episodes, but there is a definite pattern of inversion ankle sprain (or “rolling your ankle”) on a specific side. Often times this can be attributed to what we call a functional ankle instability. Rolled Ankle –…

Laser therapy has been used in clinical practice for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries for over 26 years. As with other healthcare applications utilizing laser technology, knowledge of this modality has grown considerably since its inception. A recent study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine examined the usefulness of low intensity laser therapy…

Like the various musicians in a symphony orchestra, athletic movements require different muscles to activate and deactivate in a very co-ordinated fashion. When disrupted, this orchestra of muscular activity can not only affect athletic performance, but can also lead to different injuries. Chronic Ankle Sprain and FAI Functional instability of the ankle (FAI) is an…

As part of our initiative to reduce the number of Burlington Soccer related injuries this summer, this weeks post is going to teach you a little bit about ankle sprains and how we can try and prevent them. We’ll also address some of the more current methods of treatment…

Ankle Sprain

Ankle Sprains in Youth Soccer

Ankle sprains account for 25-50% of all injuries in sports and 17% of soccer injuries. An inversion ankle sprain is the most common ankle sprain injury, accounting for 77%. It usually involves stepping on the lateral ridge of the foot and “going over” on the ankle, damaging the ligaments around the lateral malleolus. This is a very common injury for youth soccer players and our clinic in Burlington sees them quite regularly.

Chronic Ankle Sprains…Why?

Proprioception is a term that is commonly associated with ankle sprain. In technical terms, it is the combination of joint position sense and kinesthesia. In more simple terms, it’s the mechanism that allows us to know and feel the position of our joints without looking at them. Unfortunately, when we injure a ligament and different joint structures (as with an ankle sprain) this mechanism is disrupted and we are more susceptible to injury.

Physiotherapy for Ankle Sprains

Proprioceptive training is commonly used in sport specific conditioning and rehabilitation in an effort to optimize our proprioception and prevent injury. In other words, we re-teach our ankle how to function properly and avoid another sprain. This is a large focus for any ankle sprain that is treated at our Burlington clinic. Unfortunately, the literature is conflicting as to the efficacy of proprioceptive and balance training for the prevention of ankle sprains. Yet, since there really doesn’t seem to be a downside to proprioceptive training, our clinic usually recommends them to our patients who may be at risk. The following is a sample of progressions for proprioceptive training…

Proprioceptive Training Progressions

1. Stand on one foot. 2. Stand on one foot and move your hanging foot in a star pattern around you. 3. Stand on one foot with your eyes closed. 4. Stand on one foot with eyes open while bouncing a ball off the wall. 5. Progress to training on unstable surfaces (like wobble boards or bosu balls).

Keep in mind that ankle instability and susceptibility to sprain is a complex issue. Things such as player position, previous injury, bracing, taping, peroneal reaction time and neuromuscular control can all be important components of prevention for some individuals.

Treatment for Ankle Sprains

If you’ve injured your ankle we hope that you call our clinic in Burlington and have it examined. Chronic, repeated ankle sprains are common with youth soccer players yet this can be prevented. The treatment for ankle sprains can vary depending on the stage of injury. In acute circumstances we usually recommend using laser therapy as a starting point. This can be performed by our Chiropractors or our Physiotherapists. Laser therapy can speed up tissue recovery and decrease swelling. The result is a faster return to play than what we would expect with traditional rehabilitative modalities like ultrasound. In more chronic cases, treatments like active release technique or graston technique can improve range of motion and tissue function. Need to get back to playing quickly? Call our Burlington Chiropractic and Physiotherapy clinic today – 905.220.7858. info@burlingtonsportstherapy.com